The German in me has come out: Die Frau (translation: The Lady) will post her ramblings, thoughts, and gripes so she won't drive her loving man, supportive family, or amazing friends screaming into the night.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Try This!

My friend S. has gotten a bunch of us together to create a little sharing group called "Try This!" (a la Martha Stewart, I believe). We've all contributed ideas and suggestions on various facets of life from recipes to advice. I told her I'd post it here. Unfortunately I'm not sure how to get the pictures to show up--any help, feather nester? I also took out names: While crediting the person is important, I feel on the web privacy's a little more so. Hope you understand and enjoy!

Try This!

April 2007

RECIPES:

Overnight Baked French Toast

1 loaf French bread

¼ C softened butter

4 large eggs

1 C skim milk

¼ C sugar

2 T maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

Cut bread loaf into ¾” slices.Spread softened butter evenly over one side of each bread slice.Arrange bread slices, buttered side up, in a greased 9x13 baking dish.Whisk together eggs and remaining ingredients.Pour over bread, pressing slices down.Cover and chill overnight.

To bake: Remove break slices from baking dish and place onto a lightly greased baking sheet.Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 min or until golden.Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

OK, I'm a key lime expert I must say. After living and eating key lime pie in Southern Florida, California, and now St. Thomas VI, I still say that this recipe from an Ithaca restaurant is the best. The reasons are: the right amount of tartness, the creamy texture, and its not fake green!! The crust is not too sweet to overpower the key lime. Signed: the Key Lime expert :):)

- Marilyn

KITCHEN-RELATED PRODUCTS

Fajita Dust from Williams-Sonoma

The stuff in the purple canister. Having endlessly searched for the perfect fajita seasoning, spending a king's ransom on various grocery store marinades and powders, I ran across this stuff and gave it a whirl. We've used it religiously ever since. I've also seen it at Wild Oats.

- Sommer

Evert-Fresh Green Bags

Say good-bye to brown bananas and wilted celery!! My mom bought these for me when we took a trip to Whole Foods and swore by them that they would keep all of my produce fresh and crisp for weeks. I was skeptical, but she was right! Apparently they remove gases and provide a moisture barrier so that your produce does not get moldy or turn brown. The only thing you have to do is make sure your produce is dry before you put it in the bag. Squeeze out all of the air, put it in the fridge or on your counter, and you'll have fresh produce when you need it. These bags come in different sizes. They cost about $5 for a pack of ten, which is pricey, but they are reusable (just wash and dry). We found them in Whole Foods in the produce section, over by the sliced fruits and veggies case.

- Lori

BOOKS

The Female Brain

by: Louann Brizendine

The Female Brain explains a lot of hormonal/chemical changes that occur in the brains of women over the lifespan (childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, etc.) and explain a lot of the "crazy" behavior we are known for in insanely logical (how's that for an oxymoron?) ways that make you go, "So that's why...." A quick read, period, but especially for a neuroscience book...

- Sara

A Primate’s Memoir: A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons by: Robert M Sapolsky

Written by a primatologist who spent many years doing field research in Africa. This is a book about baboons (who, it turns out, are way cooler than you likely suspect), but also about Africa, politics, globalization, and lots of other interesting stuff. Again, written for laypeople, in a conversational tone, lots of humor. Another one I zipped through.

- Sara

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

I am in the middle of this book right now and it's an intelligent page-turner, especially for those who like whodunits with true plot. There are three case histories that the reader realizes somehow intertwine. Detective Jackson Brodie investigates them all while trying to deal with his own life, complicated by a messy divorce, questions about his life, and paternal worries about his own pre-adolescent daughter. I've really enjoyed its twists and fascinating characters.

- die frau

CRAFT PROJECTS

Scrapbook Party Favor

Here is a fun idea for birthdays, showers, or any other festive event.My mom did it for me at my baby shower and it was a lot of fun for everyone and such a creative way to capture the day. I love looking at the album from my baby shower and I know my little girl will love it one day too!

- Valerie

Set up a table with different kinds of paper, ribbon, decorations, stickers, glue sticks, scissors with fancy edges, a Polaroid camera, and anything else you can think of (we even cut up the gift bags and greeting cards to use).

Have everyone write down motherly advice as they arrive

Take pictures of the guests, cake, favors, games, etc.

Start making pages!

Once the pages are finished, put them in an album and the guest of honor has a beautiful keepsake of the day with lots of memories.

GREAT PRODUCTS

Reusable Grocery Bags

April 22nd is Earth Day and I can think of no better way to celebrate the Earth than to STOP using hundreds of plastic grocery bags every year.12 million barrels of oil are wasted every year just in the production of plastic bags, the landfills are being filled up, and it’s all unnecessary!This great company, 1 Bag at a Time (http://www.1bagatatime.com) sells these durable reusable grocery bags.You can buy 10 bags (each holds 2-3 plastic bag’s worth of groceries) plus shipping and handling for less than $30!!!

- Sarah

Orange Glow Wood Cleaning Solution

After moving into our new house, the wood floors needed a major revamp.I used Orange Glow cleaner and then polish and the floor looked great!

- Melisza

Pledge Stain Cover-up

After fixing the floors, I realized our staircase had a lot of scratches.I used this Pledge product and it did wonders in covering up the scratches.HUGE difference!

This is a blog called The Gallery of Regrettable Food by one of my favorite bloggers, James Lileks.Full of chuckles and well worth a read by modern homemakers lest they find themselves similarly lampooned 40 years from now.

Help keep our kids safe and help bring home missing kids by visiting this website.By clicking on “How You Can Help” you will receive a free child safety kit and a free internet kit.Click on “Take Action” for several free options on how you can volunteer to receive and hang up posters of missing children in your area.You are not obligated to do anything, but imagine the possibilities of finding these kids if we all do this.I urge you to please take action – at least by forwarding this link to others.

- Valerie

LIFE TIPS

“Do one thing everyday that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

- Tamarah

ONE FINAL FUNNY…

From my own files, here’s a snippet from a series I’m writing called The Easy Housewife.

- Don

Easy Salad:

One head of iceberg lettuce; one bottle of ranch dressing; one large knife.Take knife and quarter head into 4 parts, set parts on 4 plates.Pour bottle of ranch dressing over all.Serves four, with a smile.My favorite.Yum.